Provenance
Pilar Corrias Gallery, London
Acquired from the above by the present owner
Artist Biography
Francis Alÿs
Belgian / Mexican • 1959
Born in Belgium, Francis Alÿs traveled to Mexico in 1986 as part of a French program to assist in the aftermath of the tragic 1985 earthquake, and has lived there ever since. Throughout his career, the artist has analyzed facets of everyday urban life using a variety of media including video, drawing, installation and public action. Sign Painting Project (1993-'97) is a prime example of the artist's interest in the sprawling urbanization of Mexico City. In this early series, Alÿs drew inspiration from professional Mexican sign painters (rotúlistas) who painted large billboard advertisements throughout the city. In response to these large colorful compositions, Alÿs employed a similar style in creating small-scale paintings of familiar objects and places. Alÿs asked various rotúlistas to copy and enlarge his paintings, displaying his work and that of the rotúlista side-by-side. This series, like many of Alÿs' other works, illustrates the artist's concerns with such themes as collaboration, banality and originality.
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PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE EUROPEAN COLLECTION

Francis Alÿs

Untitled

2009
graphite and oil on vellum, adhesive tape and newspaper collage
15 1/8 x 11 1/4 in. (38.5 x 28.5 cm.)
Signed and dated "Alÿs 09" lower right.

Estimate
$20,000 - 30,000

Contact Specialist
Laura González
Director of Latin American Art
New York
+1 212 940 1216

New York Auction 24 November 2014 2pm